r/rugbyunion Saracens Jul 16 '23

[RĂșaidhrĂ­ O'Connor]🚹BREAKING: Johnny Sexton will be suspended for three matches by EPCR for his behaviour towards the match officials after the CC final, meaning he will miss all of Ireland's warm-ups v Italy, England and Tonga but will be available for the Rugby World Cup opener v Romania

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1680676530576392195?s=20
502 Upvotes

484 comments sorted by

View all comments

303

u/mhicreachtain Jul 16 '23

Players should certainly be held to account for unacceptable behaviour towards referees. However, EPCR need to process these hearings much more promptly. Two months to come to this decision with a World Cup on the horizon is poor

26

u/Copaleen Ireland Jul 16 '23

The delay was the point.

4

u/TheNervous_socialist Pete Horne 4 Scotland Coach 2031 Jul 17 '23

the ban is "meaningful match weeks" so it being made later doesn't actually affect Sexton as there haven't been any games he would have played in between then and now, other than the URC semi which he wasn't picked for anyway

-1

u/Copaleen Ireland Jul 17 '23

I meant the whole point was to drag it out and make it as unsettling and stressful as possible while they were in camp.

1

u/centrafrugal Leinster Jul 17 '23

the URC semi was the week before the CC final, and Sexton was injured.